The Top 10 Reasons You Need A Point Of Sale System

Writen by Jerry Wilson

10. You have employees.

If you have employees you are open to theft, sweet-hearting and careless mistakes. You need a point of sale system to manage your employees, enforce your policies and insure that your money gets to you.

9. Pricing and Math Errors.

It is still amazing how many restaurants still use a calculator and hand written tickets. According to studies done by various institutions you are open to math and pricing mistakes totaling in excess of 1% of your annual volume. In a restaurant doing as little as $1,300 per day that would add up to $4,700 per year. (Less than the price of our 2-terminal Sweet Deal Package) To eliminate pricing and math errors you need a point of sale system.

8. Time In Attendance.

Employee payroll is one of the most overlooked and most easily managed portions of your profit and loss statement. If you have 12 employees and each of them clocks in 5 minutes early a day, that equates to 1 hour per day of extra payroll. Even with minimum wage plus benefits this could add up to $6 - $8 per day or over $2,900 per year. This figure doesn't take into account the total man-hours it takes to compute time cards and then report on the hours worked for each employee. This is time that you could be spending elsewhere. If you have a few as 5 employees you need a point of sale system.

7. Reducing Theft.

This is the original reason for the invention of the cash register back in the late 1800's. Even when most of the businesses were family owned and run there was a need for a cash register to reduce theft. In today's world of hiring employees to help staff and manage your store there is even greater need for this type of control. For years we have known about the tendencies of people with regard to theft. 10% of the people wouldn't steal if giving the opportunity. 10 % of the people are going to steal no matter what safeguards are in place. 80% of the people will steal if given the opportunity. Point of sale systems are put in place to guard against the 80% and make it more difficult for them to steal from you.

6. Speed of Service.

There is only 1 thing we can think of that will drive customers away faster than bad food and that is slow service. When a customer places their order their own internal clock is running in overdrive. No matter how long they took to look over the menu and to place their order, once they have given your server or cashier their order their hunger clock is speeding along faster than a fan on high! You need a fast, reliable way to get orders into your system. This should mean a terminal that is fast, easy to understand and quick to respond to the touch of the server, cashier or bar tender. The system should also distribute the order properly to the kitchen prep station or bar. Your point of sale system should also measure your speed of service and report on how you are doing. Reducing the time it takes to get your customer's their food is critical and can even make up for less quality. For proof I give you some of the major fast food chains. Is their popularity based upon the best tasting, best dressed and best served burger or speed of service? If you want to speed up your customer service you need a point of sale system.

5. Enhanced Reporting.

What is the use of having a computer and not taking advantage of the power? If all you need is to have a total amount of cash in the drawer that sometimes matches to the amount of sales shown you probably don't need a point of sale system. However, if you want more detail and information to help manage your operation and make it more profitable then you need a point of sale system. It used to be that having a good product was enough to get you by. Now it takes a lot more information in order to compete with all the other restaurants in your market that are all looking for the same customer you have seated in your restaurant. You need to understand the buying habits of your customers. What are they ordering? When are they ordering it? What is your most profitable item? How many of it did you sell? What items on your menu are not selling? If you cannot answer all of these questions with total confidence in your answers then you need a point of sale system. If you hesitate to correctly answer (without guessing) any of these questions you need a point of sale system.

4. Exporting of Data to Other Systems.

Even most small businesses today have some form of electronic accounting in place either in their operation or through an accounting service. In addition, most businesses have an electronic payroll service or software that creates payroll. Point of sale systems capture critical data for you and then export this data in formats that automatically put this information into accounting and payroll packages, eliminating hours of tedious manual input that often leads to mistakes and human error. If you have an electronic accounting or payroll service/software or even if you want to track your sales in Excel, you need a point of sale system.

3. Integrated Credit Cards.

If you are not currently taking credit cards as a form of payment you need to start today. Never mind the fees. The loss of business that you are suffering in today's plastic minded economy will more than compensate for the fees charged. If you are currently taking credit cards through a stand-alone terminal you could be being charged exorbitant fees for the terminal when you could be processing through your point of sale system. In some cases, the elimination of the terminal rental will pay for the credit card interface in less than a year. With integrated credit card processing you are assured that the amount of the sale will match the amount charged on the credit card, eliminating the need to go back and match individual sales when the credit card batch does not match credit card sales. When high-speed Internet connections are used to process credit cards we receive approvals in less than 2 seconds. No longer is slower speed of service an excuse not to take credit cards. If you want to quickly, accurately and smoothly process credit cards you need a point of sale system.

2. Competitive Marketing.

a. Frequent Diner Modules. Who are your customers? What do they buy? How often do they visit? Of your frequent visitors, who hasn't been in to see you during the past month? Of your frequent visitors, who has a special day coming up this month? These are questions that you should have the answer to. All the major chains and all of your competitors are after the people who come to your restaurant. They want to take them for themselves. How are you going to compete with the billions of dollars being spent to draw your customer away? By marketing your operation and your menu. Your point of sale system should be able to manage your customer base, keep up with their buying habits, how often they visit, when was their last visit and what special occasions they have coming up. Your point of sale system then should be able to sort these into groups that should be sent mailers, coupons, invitations to special events or simply told that they are appreciated and asked to visit you again. If you have competition you need a point of sale system.

b. Gift cards have become the norm for so many businesses today. An entire industry has been formed around the old concept of giving a paper gift certificate. Today, you will find gift cards at most major checkout lines. A point of sale system should be able to sell, redeem and control balances for your own gift card program. No longer do you need a book of certificates that are kept in the safe. Today, all you need is a stack of blank plastic cards with your colorful logo on them. These cards carry no balance and have no cash value until sold and a balance placed on account. As an owner you should keep a few of these cards with you. Each of these cards might have a small balance on them for you to hand out to pull customers to your restaurant or to give in case of a poor experience to help bring someone back. Think of these cards as your personal marketing tool. When the customer looks in their purse or wallet and sees your logo they will be reminded to come visit you. If you use gift certificates or gift cards you need a point of sale system.

1. You Don't Need Any More 'Partners'.

Sure you need gift cards. Yes you need to better understand your customer's buying habits. You absolutely need to have credit cards integrated with your point of sale system. You need enhanced reporting and export of these reports to electronic accounting and payroll services. You need to eliminate errors, reduce mistakes and keep track of your payroll. But more than any of these you don't need any more partners. Especially the ones that take their portion of the profits before you get yours. We are talking about the servers, waitresses, bartenders and cashiers who:

a. Undercharge customers in order to enhance their own tips. Show a $5 tab and a $50 tip. (Yes, I have seen this!)

b. Deliberately void or delete an item after it has been paid for.

c. Stuff coupons into the cash drawer in exchange for cash.

d. Don't charge customers for soft beverages to enhance their tips.

e. Ring up a lower priced item (well brand) and serve a higher priced item (premium brand)

f. Give discounts to their friends.

g. In a buffet line, ring up a buffet and a tea. Reprint this ticket 10 times and sell and collect for themselves these reprinted receipts instead of ringing up new customers.

If you want to stay in business, you need a point of sale system.

Jerry D. Wilson is Director of Internet Sales for DirecTouch Restaurant Point of Sale. With over 25 years of hospitality point of sale experience, he has written several articles explaining the benefits of touch screen and retail point of sale software. Please visit http://www.directouchpos.com or http://www.directretailpos.com for more information.

How To Make Money With Your Junk Mail

Writen by Julia Tang

The term "junk mail" is a well-known term. To the common guy or gal on the street, "junk mail" to them is advertising flyers from the local grocery store and pizza shop that arrive in their mail every day. To the mail order dealer, it means something totally opposite because a mail order dealer in St Paul MN is not going to get a pizza ad for a shop in Jackson MS.

Therefore, "junk mail" refers to pyramid schemes, chain letters and other worthless information that you are inundated with as a newcomer. Often you will get so much of it that you will think this is all mail order has to offer and quit. THIS IS NOT TRUE. This is only one phase of the mail order industry -- and it's too bad that beginners get hit with the bulk of it. As you continue to grow in the mail order business, the amount of "junk mail" you receive will diminish compared to the legitimate offers and orders. This is how you know your business is growing in a successful direction.

But back to the matter at hand. How can you make money with this "junk"? One way is by studying and analyzing the piece of mail from a marketing standpoint. Since people obviously are making money with "junk mail" (it would have phased out long ago if it didn't) it's up to you to find out HOW they are doing it.

Is it the words they use? Normally, "junk mail" offers appeal to a person's emotional wants and desires. They claim to offer hidden secrets, untold wealth and quick cash. They make false claims by telling people they can now send their kids to college, buy their wife a beautiful diamond ring, take a well-deserved vacation to an exotic tropic island and pay off all their debts.

When the person reads this stuff and forms visions of sugarplums in their heads, they will rush right away and send away for the product immediately. What made them believe you? How was the "junk mail" written to cause a person to immediately react in this manner? These are things you have to study and determine. Then, use this new found knowledge to sell your own product.

The problem with "junk mail" is that if a person gets all hyped up and sends away for the product they have built it up to be bigger-than-life. And when the product or information they ordered arrives, it simply is a sheet of paper or another piece of "junk mail" trying to sell them something else. The person feels cheated, stupid, and taken advantage of.

People may always exist that will respond to this type of "junk mail." But you can use the same marketing concept to provide the people with something REAL. This way, they won't feel cheated, stupid and taken advantage of. This is where the "junk mail" authors who wrote this stuff in the first place overlook the true marketing potential.

More money could be made if the person buying something is satisfied and makes a repeat purchase. In fact, newcomers are eager to learn and will buy anything to get started learning. By taking advantage of them only means that you will make one sale in that person's lifetime. But if the product is good and worthwhile -- they will order from you again and again. Many newcomers today will be big businesses tomorrow. And I'm sure if a newcomer found a honest company that really helped them break into the mail order field they would continue to do business with them when they really did make millions of dollars. See what I mean? The back-end sales for a lifetime would be worth the investment.

I'm not saying that you can take a piece of "junk mail" claiming to make the person $1 million in 30 days or less and turn it into a valuable and worthwhile product. Since this is a downright lie, there is no way to market this honestly. However -- you can study the piece of "junk mail" to determine what words and phrases were used and how the ad is written so you can understand how to present a REAL product that people will be eager to buy.

Then, pass the word and tell every new person you come into contact with about these pie-in-the-sky-schemes. You might even want to try writing to some of the people listed on the chain letters. Explain how all this "junk mail" only appeals to their emotional needs and how the company who originally wrote these materials are USING them to only get their money. If everyone passed along this information -- it wouldn't take very many years before we could put a stop to all this nonsense.

If people slack off on buying it and see the scam for what it really is -- the cons will diminish!

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Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: http://www.best-internet-businesses.com
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Note: Feel free to publish it with the resource box and content unchanged

Ten Ways To Sell Your Ideas To Anyone

Writen by Adrian Savage

You have a great idea you know is a winner. All you need is support from some key people. You prepare your material, get some PowerPoint slides together and make your presentation,

Phut! No interest. No questions. No support.

What went wrong?

These are the ten commonest mistakes presenters make and how to correct them.

1. You didn't take time to define your audience clearly and address them personally.

Your audience has one question in their minds all the time: "What's in this for me?" If you don't answer it obviously, they tune out.

Be clear about your audience and aim your pitch solely at them. Anyone else is a bonus.

2. You opened your presentation with the idea itself.

Wrong!

Always lead with the clearest, most powerful benefit to that specific group.

Which would you listen to first?

"I'm going to talk to you about some new ideas in presentation technique."

"Here's a simple way to make your audience eager to buy into your ideas."

You must get people to pay attention. What grabs them? A sure-fire solution a problem they know they have. Not an idea they can't see how to use yet.

3. You took too long to get to the point and gave too much detailed explanation.

People's attention span is short. You either catch them fast or you don't catch them at all.

Don't work up to the key issues. Get to the point. Forget explanations until you have their interest. Once hooked, they'll listen. Until then, they won't.

4. You didn't get all your key points in quickly and people lost interest.

List your key points at the start, right after you've caught their attention with big, specific benefits.

Present your points starting with the most important. Always begin with the essentials. If people get bored, they'll still have heard the most important points.

5. You were wordy, you didn't sound confident and you went off at tangents.

Brevity breathes authority. Don't waste your audience's attention on anything that isn't essential.

Less is nearly always more. Cut it to the minimum. If people have unanswered questions, give time for them at the end. You can end on a high note, not the typical embarrassed wait for someone--anyone--to ask something.

6. You didn't stick to a single message.

Every additional message causes an earlier one to be forgotten.

What do you want the audience to hear? Say it clearly and with confidence...then shut up.

7. You didn't work on building a fan base first.

It's easier to present with fans in the audience to support you. Brief them in advance and encourage them to come along as supporters. Nothing convinces people as much as seeing others already convinced.

8. You didn't practice enough.

If you're not presentation perfect in practice conditions, performance stress will make you into an idiot.

If you're using technology, assume it's going to break down or mess up.

People who aren't properly prepared easily get anxious and nervous people aren't convincing.

9. You got the timing wrong.

Don't schedule your presentation when key people have something else on their minds. Don't hold it on Monday morning (they're dreading what they'll find on their desks) or Friday afternoon (what are you planning for the weekend?).

10. You didn't give them time to grasp your idea.

How fast can they take it in? Who else will they want to consult? Catch their attention, explain only what you have to explain, remind them of the big benefits, then sit down and let them think about it.

Never push for a decision unless you're sure it's the one you want. As long as the decision is open, you can make another attempt.

Follow this advice and next time you'll have an audience that will be right behind you.

Adrian W. Savage writes for people who want help with the daily dilemmas they face at work. He has contributed more than 25 articles to leading British and American publications and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Chicago Tribune.

Visit his blog on the ups and downs of business life.

Trade Show Marketing Misery 10 Deadly Mistakes That Spell Disaster

Writen by Tim Warren

If you want to guarantee disaster, huge expense and seriously challenge your health in your trade show marketing, follow this simple formula. Although these top 10 tips are somewhat humorous, they are unfortunately based on real-life observations I have made in many trade shows.

1) Think you know everything, even if you've never attended a travel trade show. You're convinced travel trade show marketing is for you because everyone else seems to do it. Plus you're not sure what other tourism marketing to do.

2) Don't do any pre-show promotions to regional customers and prospects. You don't want to spend any more money because your cheap or max'd out your credit card. You figure it's the trade show management's job to get people to the show.

3) Never talk to show management and don't read the manual before the show. You believe that all they want to do is try to sell you more space or inform you about an additional union cost they forgot to tell you about.

4) Design and build the booth yourself in your spare time. Proudly place your company name across the middle of your display in large 4" type; "Joe's Fun Trips". Load up the booth and table with dozen's of small photos your 7-year old niece took with "Brownie camera.

5) Don't talk with your staff or create show goals. Put your old Uncle Albert in the booth since he knows your region and trips better then anyone, even though he's hard of hearing and shy. Don't have or practice a strategy on how to approach prospects.

6) Arrive just in time for the show because you want to avoid extra lodging costs. Carry and move all your booth supplies and avoid the expense and hassle of shipping and handling.

7) Consider everyone in the show a prospect. Try to coral everyone that's walking by. Tell everyone what's better about your trips and why everyone else's stinks.

8) Give everyone several of your expensive new 4-color brochures. You invested the majority of your tourism promotional money into the new brochures and you want to make sure everyone has one.

9) You and old Uncle Albert will work the weeklong booth yourselves. Don't drink water. Eat tradeshow concessionaire fast food exclusively. Attends late night hospitality suites, drink all the free beer you can and party with associates every night. Forget your breath mints.

10) Jump into operations when your get back to the office. Wait for all the calls and new clients from your travel trade show marketing to come pouring in.

If you want the top tips for how-to exhibit successfully, read my other articles on travel trade show exhibiting on my website or here at EzineArticles.com. It doesn't matter what industry you are in. Successful trade show exhibiting is something you can learn and prosper from - unless you are old Uncle Albert.

Tim Warren is the author of "Tourism Marketing Success" guaranteed to help you standout from the crowd and sell more in your trade show booth, website, advertising, brochure and more. For free travel marketing and business articles and the free mini-course; "The 10 Commandments of Travel Business Success" visit http:// http://www.adventurebizsuccess.com/ Since 1994, business and marketing resources exclusively for tourism and hospitality professionals and travel trade associations.

Top 7 Tips For Deck Cleaning Companies

Writen by Lance Winslow

If you are considering getting into the deck and gazebo cleaning and coating business then there are many simple tips, which will help you increase your sales. For instance direct mail advertising seems to work best for getting new customers.

Additionally if you ask each and every customer after you have done a service for them if they can refer you to three more clients then you will give them a 10 percent discount on their next cleaning you will increase your customer base.

One thing we always felt that works well is to put a sign out front, which states that your company is currently cleaning and treating the deck at this home. Also it pays to put brochures in a little tiny mailbox on the stem of the sign. All deck cleaning companies should have Web sites where people can go and ask questions about how you do the cleaning and what kind of products you use when you treat the decks.

It also makes sense to have a 4 to 5 year guarantee. Deck cleaning companies don't always have signage on their vehicles, but they should be an especially on the rear of the vehicles so while people are stuck in traffic they can read the sign. Always make sure you have your phone number on your vehicles, which can be seen from all sides, including the front of the vehicle.

If you're going out to the movies with your family is best to park in the first row and take your work vehicle and put business cards at a 45 degree angle in the window jam on the drivers and passenger side. Please consider all these tips in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Power In Complaints 10 Tips To Convert Them

Writen by Laurie A. Sheppard

Make no mistake about it a life of complaints isn't for the weak, it's for the strong. It takes stamina to subject yourself to constant review of what's failing in your life and continually imagine the scenarios you could have had if you'd only done something else. Tired enough to convert it? If so, read on. If not, hope to catch you next time.

Naming the effect the problem has on you can help you see it with a perspective that distances it from being something wrong with you.

TUMBLEWEED EFFECT One or two problems become bigger and spread as they roll along, forming other tumbleweeds. You know the cause, you had a plan and now it's not going the way you expected. Rather than interpret one or two problems as occurring in isolation, you collapse your view so everything else appears messed up too. Plus the computer is down or you misplaced something. Now your whole day seems off track.

QUICK SAND EFFECT As you reach for a solution you keep falling back in the hole. You try to get on solid ground, but another problem, small or large, seems to claw at you and you loose the ground you'd gained. These days happen. It sounds like a call for a day off, or at least an extended lunch, but instead you push upwards, falling repeatedly.

BURSTING SEAMS EFFECT You either feel too big or too small for the situation. It's hard to contain your frustration. You're not sure whether to jump or sit still, to hurry up or give up what you've been doing. Whatever positive internal messages are trying to center you, you don't stop to listen for now.

CARE-LESS EFFECT You start cycling an inner dialogue that says, "It doesn't matter anyway, nothing is important." True, nothing is THAT important. If you listen you will find it's the truth. You may even have that rewarding peacefulness come over you. But it quickly shifts to a feeling of resignation when you give more thought energy to what's not working. "What's the point? What difference does it make now anyway!" Etc. Etc.

The affect of your upset could be all the above, so what do you do when it hits you?
1. Stop trying to figure things out or make decisions. You're not in the right place at the moment. Just plain trust you will be a little later.
2. Don't talk to others to merely gossip or complain and potentially cause a bigger problem, even if it just distorts your view.
3. Most important is to accept where you are. Slow down and respect your need for a deeper connection.
4. If you have to decide something now, make the minimum safe choice and then inform everyone else you'll get back to them. Then take a break.
5. Avoid outside distractions such as television, telephones and computers. They only postpone the silence and gap you need to get clear. If you can't do that, take a long lunch or work hard for a few hours and leave the office early. (As long as this isn't a habit at work, no one will think you're shirking your responsibilities. Especially when you come back recharged.)
6. Take alone time and don't fill it with anything but space. Contemplate, pray, meditate, go for a walk, sit and watch the clouds or sunset.
7. Helping others can be known to eliminate your own self-concerns and cause an improved focus in your own life. (However, if it's an avoidance technique, or you don't have the energy reserves to do it, don't.)
8. Writing your thoughts and feelings down can be healing. Don't write as if anyone else is going to read it. Just do mind and emotion dumping.
9. If you're prone to frequent or long upsets, get immediate psychological help. For temporary setbacks, you could also benefit from therapy. Consider coaching if you're ready to get back on track with clarifying goals and taking action.
10. Acknowledge yourself for bringing yourself forward and not dwelling for long in the negative.

Finally, when your upset has passed and you're ready to look at the situation with fresh eyes, take a paper and pen and sit somewhere quiet to consider next steps. Reflect on the problem at hand and how you would help someone else with this problem. Come up with a peace plan (vs. a battle plan) and share it with someone you trust who can support you.

Constant complaints don't serve anyone, but most of all, you. Take back the power that slipped away while you focused on what you don't have, where you're not yet, and where you should be if you had your act together. Consider that you do and you're right where you need to be, for the next big thing that's coming your way.

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Laurie A. Sheppard: 12-year master certified Life Coach and Career Strategist to mid-level professionals and small business entrepreneurs who want to make quality career and personal changes. Laurie is author of the double-audiotape, "The 3 C's for Effective Living: Change, Creativity and Communication" and eBook, "Achieving Selfhood Through Self-Esteem." She offers complimentary coaching sessions, giveaways and numerous resources including her monthly ezine, "Change-makers' Career Tips," at http://www.creatingatwill.com.

You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print free of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web address in hyperlink for others sites. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to Laurie@CreatingAtWill.com.

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Info@creatingatwill.com
Phone: 310/645-2874 – Questions, Ordersserved

Laurie A. Sheppard is the coach for change. She is a master certified Life Coach and Career Strategist, author and speaker. She helps entrepreneurs and professionals manifest their career and personal goals. Her audiobook gives you the 10 foundational steps to make change easy and her self-esteem book gives you the confidence to take the actions. Laurie's free monthly ezine, "Change-makers Career Tips" is a short, must-read, career-tips aid. http://www.creatingatwill.com

Top 7 Tips For Maximizing Your Education Amp Training Dollars To Deliver Positive Return On Investment

Writen by Leanne Hoagland-Smith

In 2004, corporate America spent an excess of $65 billion on training and development (according to Association for Training and Development – ASTD) delivered in many cases through the human resource departments. Yet, research suggests that possibly only 10% of traditional training is actually transferred to the workplace.

Consider the following tips when adopting or revisiting your training programs.

1. Separate any symptoms from the real problem

Many times the first words heard are "We need training" whether it is for diversity, customer service, sales, etc. Yet, the training issue may be only a symptom of a far more pervasive problem. This is the time to administer an organizational assessment before the implementation of any training solution.

2. Include measurable objectives

Objectives should be started using verbs such as demonstrate, define or list.

3. Include opportunities for cognitive retention

Research suggests that a one time exposure to a learning event results in 2% cognitive retention after 16 days. However, 6 consecutive reinforcements such as through audio CD's increases cognitive retention to 60-65%.

4. Develop the program to reflect the culture within your organization

The program should be customized through the use of role-playing vignettes, etc. to integrate the desired skills within the company.

5. Address beliefs and therefore attitudes

Given that beliefs are the foundational thought processes that drive attitudes which in turn are demonstrated as observable behaviors, then focusing on the underlying beliefs is a critical component to the ultimate success of any training or development program.

6. Provide time for application

Recently I read where a 6 hour one day nationally offered public workshop on communication and supervisory skills offered over 50 objectives for $175 per participant. That's a lot of knowledge. However, if you consider that every 7.2 minutes another objective was being delivered at a cost of $3.50 per objective, that leaves very little time for interaction between participants less alone opportunities for application.

7. Align program to Kirkpatrick's Third and Fourth Levels of Evaluation

Dr. Don Kirkpatrick developed taxonomy on how to evaluate training. The Third Level focuses on application – How is the training being applied within the workplace? Level Four centers on impact of the training specific to measurable results.

By infusing these 7 tips into your training program, your most limited resources should quickly deliver at least double the results.

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, President of ADVANCED SYSTEMS, integrates an organizational assessment that in 2 to 4 weeks can quickly and affordably identify the gaps in YOUR organization and provide you with an Action Plan that you can easily implement and monitor.

Take the time to ensure that your actions are directonally correct.

ADVANCED SYSTEMS

Connecting Passion to Purpose to DOUBLE Performance in Real Time

Top 7 Keys To Ask A Translation Company Before You Make Your Selection On A Translator

Writen by John Stone

1. Will your translation company provide proofreading free of charge or will quality control be performed in an alternate fashion?

2. How does your translation/localization firm count the volume of the source text to be translated? This could be shown in terms of number of words, number of pages, or number of sentences?

3. Are your translation team members exclusively residing in-house i.e, in the office or are they also consisting of outsourced translators or a combination of both?

4. How long have your translators been translating, on average and what are your credentials, and/or qualifications. Some translation agencies are members of what is known as the ATA or American Translation Association, which oversees professional translators.

5. Can you offer my organization any kind of past references of medium/large translation projects which your firm has successfully undertaken relating to my area of need?

6. Are your translators not just qualified to translate the language itself, but the specific subject matter i.e., engineering, IT, literature, along with all possible nuances to effectively render the original meaning of the source dialogue?

7. What kind of discount would you be willing to offer me as a first time client and potential ongoing customer? Don't be afraid to try and negotiate as translation companies are known for cutting their rates to satisfy their potential clients.

John Stone is a professional business and international translation consultant with years of experience in various industries. He has consulted for Bardito International among other organizations.

10 Great Ecommerce Businesses You Can Start Now

Writen by Rhonda Winn

If you've been thinking of starting a business on the web but you're not sure what type of business to start then this article is for you. You could be wasting valuable time trying to make your first move. There are thousands of opportunities on the web and this article is meant to show you just a few great ideas that could help you get up and running with your very own e-commerce business.

The act of running a business over the Internet offers many rewards. For one, it dramatically reduces your startup and overhead costs while simultaneously expanding your target base. You literally have a global store when you operate an e-business.

Starting a business over the web isn't free. However, the costs involved with starting these businesses don't have to deter you. You could start an e-commerce business with as little as $500, possibly even less. Putting away a few dollars each week could get you at the $500 mark in no time. So let's work from there. You can start any of the businesses I've mentioned below or you may even have some ideas of your own.

1. Clothing retailer of all types
2. Educational courses
3. Diet and fitness information and products
4. Web design templates
5. DVDs and videos of all sorts
6. Credit repair advisors
7. Data entry services
8. Web designers
9. Telephone answering service
10. Photography services, stock images

To reduce your start up costs with any of these businesses is really quite simple. It's important to set up a strict budget and stick to it. That part may sound easy but many people make the mistake of spending money without accounting for it or continuously buying advertising without a set strategy.

If you don't already have a computer, use a friend's or visit your local library or Internet cafe. You can also buy used computers for less than $200. They will be outdated but you'll still be able to log on to the Internet and create documents.

Some other suggestions on how to save money include using a web template until your business becomes more established. And remember, for your web development needs there are tons of free applications available. Check out http://sourceforge.net to get started adding more functionality to your site.

The above list is a great place to start if you're thinking of starting a business over the web. They also are affordable and relatively simple to start. If you need additional information on any of these businesses a quick search on your favorite search engine will provide you with more information than you thought possible. Good luck!

Copyright © 2005 Rhonda Winn - All Rights Reserved. Rhonda Winn has been helping small business owners since 2000. She is the author of the popular eBook, "How to Live Your Dreams and Achieve Unlimited Wealth in Small Business" Receive the first chapter free, when you join her bi-monthly newsletter today: SmallBizStartupKit.com.

You are free to publish this article as long as the content remains unchanged and copyright notice and byline is not removed from article.

The Top 10 Hiring Mistakes

Writen by Alvah Parker

Hiring a new employee is something that professionals often postpone as long as possible. It is important to find the right person to fill the vacancy. The hiring process takes time and effort. There is a big temptation to add someone who is available at that moment and looks like they have the skills to do it. This is often a mistake. Here is a list of other hiring mistakes that professionals frequently make:

1. No job description – By writing down in detail the tasks that this employee will be required to do the hiring manager will be able to see clearly the qualifications a person will need to do this job.

2. Hiring someone without the necessary skills – It will be clear from the job description what skills are necessary for the job. Testing the candidate to be sure that his or her skills are current is also important. (Use a Proof reading, filing, or grammar skills assessment.)

3. Hiring someone without having the person take a behavioral assessment – The assessment will help you see if this person will fit into the office and compliment the skills of the other people. It will also help you to communicate with the person in a way that that person will hear. Most managers tend to hire people like themselves when in fact they may need someone who can do some of the things that the manager doesn't enjoy.

4. Hiring someone whose temperament or personality is wrong for the job – Some positions require people who are talkative and friendly and others require people who enjoy working by themselves. Certain tasks require a detail oriented person while others need some one who sees the big picture. Knowing the personality type and temperament that is best for the particular position will help the manager find the right person.

5. Hiring friends and/or relatives – Often people hire friends or relatives to be kind or to do a favor for someone. If the decision turns out to be a bad one, the situation can get really uncomfortable. It is often difficult to give feedback to friends or relatives and they often resent being put in a position where they have to be grateful for the opportunity but are really angry with you for the criticism.

6. Not interviewing the candidate – To really get to know if you can work with someone you need to speak with him/her directly either face to face or by phone.

7. Not preparing for the interview by creating a set of questions that you ask everyone – Spending time preparing a set of probing questions for the candidates will help you to determine which candidate most closely fits your job description.

8. Not posting the job, advertising it in the paper and/or using a recruiter so that you get multiple candidates giving you a choice – Some are tempted to hire the first applicant. If you advertise for candidates in multiple ways and use a recruiter too, you should have a variety of candidates to interview and select from.

9. Not screening the candidates so you interview everyone – Once you have a group of candidates it is easiest to have screening interviews to weed out those who are definitely inappropriate. Often screening interviews are done by phone but also could be done in email.

10. Not checking references and background – It is tempting once you have settled on a candidate to hire him/her on the spot. It is worth taking the time to check references and background to be sure that this candidate has honestly presented him/herself.

About Alvah Parker

Alvah Parker is a Business and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. To subscribe send an email to join-roadtosuccess@go.netatlantic.com.

Parker's Value Program© enables clients to find a way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. She is both a Practice Advisor and Coach to attorneys, managers, business owners, sole practioners, and people in transition. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com She may also be reached at 781-598-0388

Top 7 Business Tips For Small Business Starters For Online Business

Writen by Mark Shay

1.) Brainstorming for an idea - You must select what interests you in any field and put together 5 to 7 possible ideas that seem viable as a source of income.

2.) Deciding what type of product - you are going to sell and how it will be shipped. For example is it a tangible watch or an intangible product such as an ebook etc.

3.) Analyze the demand for the product - You can anaylze what other people are bidding for search engine placement to sometimes get a better idea of the profit involved in your particular niche.

4.) Check the competition - You can often look at other businesses similar to your prospective business and see how their site is layed out, their content, etc. Afterwards you can implement some of their methods and come up with a new method to set yourself apart.

5.) Setting up the website/product - once you have everything in mind, go ahead and search for available domain names relative to your product, and decide how you are going to ship it etc.

6.) Learning how to get people hooked - writing creative and appealing headlines and sales letters will definitely give your site a fighting chance, but you also want to have a free newsletter so you can continue to market to people and build a valuable relationship, this is key.

7.) Handling with products and marketing - you have to find a decent merchant account who you would like to have on your site selling your products through, there is a free one or two out there but choose ur account wisely. For marketing there is quite a bit to do out there I would really stick with search engine marketing, ppc and optimization.

(C) Mark Shay

Learn How Entreprenuers Make $2,700 A Day Using The Secrets Of Gurus.
http://www.therealincome.com

(C) Mark Shay

Wheres The Cash 7 Simple And Proven Steps You Can Easily Take Right Now To Get Paid Faster

Writen by Sandra Martini

It's that time again. You send out invoices and sit and wait, and wait, and wait for your clients to pay you. Sometimes it's a matter of cash flow on their end, sometimes they are just too busy and forget and other times it's something little that they are unsure of, but haven't found the time to contact you.

* Put terms on your invoices.

How can you be paid on time if your clients don't know what "on time" means? Whether you select "net 15", "net 30", "due on receipt", or other terms, be sure to tell your clients when to pay you.

* Accept credit cards.

This is critical in today's world and if you're not doing it, you're not getting paid as quickly as you could. I highly recommend using a Merchant Account Service such as Card Service International (www.cardserviceinternational.com), but if you're not ready to do that, at least get a PayPal account. It's free and it allows anyone to pay you via credit card.

* "Request Money".

If you have a PayPal account, make it easy for your clients by sending them a "Request Money" link from your PayPal account. Your clients won't have to stop to get a check, write the check, address an envelope, stamp and mail it. They can click a few buttons and you get paid.

* Email your invoice.

Software products such as QuickBooks allow you to email directly from the software with the email address coming from you. Do this even if you have sent a PayPal funds request so your clients have the proper backup.

* Unique invoice numbers.

Make it easy for your clients by including unique invoice numbers. There's nothing worse than having your clients toss out an invoice because they think it's a duplicate.

* Be available.

Insure your contact information (or that of your accounts payable person) -- physical address, email address and phone number -- is on every invoice. If your client has a question, you want to be able to answer it quickly and the person who pays the bills may not be the person you work with.

* Invoice off cycle.

If you invoice on a regular basis and not "per project", invoice at a time other than the end of the month. At the end of the month, you're competing for your clients' cash at the same time as most other vendors.

Online Business Manager & Entrepreneur Sandra Martini publishes the 'Effective Entrepreneur' weekly e-zine, coaches and consults with small business owners to more efficiently manage their businesses while increasing profits and having more fun. Sandra's coaching programs are delivered via teleconference calls, email and telephone. Learn more or sign up for 'Effective Entrepreneur' today at http://www.thebostonvirtualsolution.com

7 Keys To Running A Successful Business

Writen by Scott Kiser, DDS

Although dentistry may appear to be different than other types of businesses, in reality it is a business. And although this article is written from a dentist's perspective on developing a successful practice, the principles can be used in virtually any business.

I have been in the dental industry for over 20 years and can proudly say I do have a highly successful business, also known as a practice. Over the years, I have learned many things that work in running a business and even more that do not. It is with this in mind that I share the following 7 keys to running a successful business. Regardless of your industry they can apply.

1. Have a vision

One of the most important aspects of running any business is to have a clear vision of what you want that business to be like. What do you want to be known for in the marketplace? What kind of clients do you desire? What level of service do you want to provide? Do you want to be "one among many" or do you want to be considered a leader in your industry?

By answering these and many other similar type questions, you will gain insight into the direction you can, and should, take your business.

2. Develop a plan that ties into the vision

Once you gain clarity on your vision, you must be willing to develop a plan. Far too often people have an idea of where they want their organization to be, but they fail to put together a usable plan. Take time to map out what needs to be done to achieve your outcomes.

3. Know your market

One of the most important aspects of running any type of business is to know whom your market is. You can't be all things to all people. Contrary to what some would like to believe, not everyone is his or her market. There is a very astute saying in marketing, "If everyone is your market, then no one is your market."

The clearer you are on who you are targeting the easier it will be to focus your efforts on reaching those individuals and/or companies.

4. Gain visibility within your market

Take a very focused approach to reaching your market. Just because you have determined who your market it, doesn't mean you are done. You must now be willing to have a very focused approach to targeting your market. Whether that be through direct mail, advertising, newsletters, informational seminars or any number of methods, you have to be willing to keep your name in front of your market.

5. Get your team on board

This is probably one of the most crucial and yet, often most overlooked aspects of running a business. You have to make sure your team knows what is going on. Holding regular staff meetings as a means to keep people informed is a great way to gain the buy in of your team. Additionally, be open to ideas that may come from your team members.

It will be very difficult to achieve your long-term goals if your team members either don't understand your vision or haven't bought into it. When you hire people, make sure they understand what you are trying to achieve. Whether you are dealing with new members of the team or seasoned folks, everyone must be willing to be a part of the plan. When they are, you will have a much greater chance for success.

6. Be consistent

Running and marketing a business is an ongoing process. The greatest mistake people make in virtually any industry is they try something once and expect instant results. You must be in this for the long haul. Sure, with some of your marketing strategies you will get instant, or direct, response. However, with most approaches, it is more like the tortoise and the heir. In the short-term it looks like the heir is in the lead, but the reality is he is burning himself out and ends up losing to the tortoise who had a consistent and long-term vision.

7. Realize – you change lives

One of the things I most love about dentistry is I know I change lives. I recognize this beyond a shadow of a doubt. When my patients are able to obtain the smile they once only dreamed of because of what I did for them, I know I am doing my life's work.

With most people, regardless of the industry you are in, in some way you do change lives. If you know that, your job is very rewarding.

Think about the end user of your product or service. What is it about what you provide that makes a difference for them? If you don't know, ask your customers. You may be pleasantly surprised. It is in the answers you can become clearer and clearer as to your vision and the benefits you bring to others through the services you provide.

Copyright: © 2004 by Dr. Scott Kiser

Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your web site, or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.

About The Author

Dr. Scott Kiser has been practicing general dentistry in Salt Lake City, Utah for over 20 years. Dr. Kiser has used only mercury-free substances in his treatments since the mid 90's and concentrates his practice in the areas of sedation dentistry and complete smile makeovers. Consumer Research Council of America selected him as Utah's Top Cosmetic Dentist of 2003 - 04. Visit www.greatsmilesutah.com to sign up for a FREE monthly online newsletter or for more information on Dr. Kiser and all of his services.

Skiserdds@aol.com

7 Small Business Marketing Tips

Writen by Bob Leduc

Here are 7 low-cost but highly effective marketing tips to help any small business find customers and generate sales quickly.

1. Don't Advertise Like a Big Business

Big businesses advertise to create name recognition and future sales. A small business can't afford to do that. Instead, design your advertising to produce sales ...now. One way to accomplish this is to always include an offer in your advertising - and an easy way for prospective customers to respond to it.

2. Offer a Cheaper Version

Some prospective customers are not willing to pay the asking price for your product or service. Others are more interested in paying a low price than in getting the best quality. You can avoid losing sales to many of these customers by offering a smaller or stripped down version of your product or service at a lower price.

3. Offer a Premium Version

Not all customers are looking for a cheap price. Many are willing to pay a higher price to get a premium product or service. You can boost your average size sale and your total revenue by offering a more comprehensive product or service ...or by combining several products or services in a special premium package offer for a higher price.

4. Try Some Unusual Marketing Methods

Look for some unconventional marketing methods your competitors are overlooking. You may discover some highly profitable ways to generate sales and avoid competition. For example, print your best small ad on a postcard and mail it to prospects in your targeted market. A small ad on a postcard can drive a high volume of traffic to your website or generate a flood of sales leads for a very small cost.

5. Trim Your Ads

Reduce the size of your ads so you can run more ads for the same cost. You may even be surprised to find that some of your short ads generate a better response than their longer versions.

6. Set up Joint Promotions with Other Small Businesses

Contact some non-competing small businesses serving customers in your market. Offer to publicize their products or services to your customers in exchange for their publicizing your services to their customers. This usually produces a large number of sales for a very low cost.

7. Take Advantage of Your Customers

Your customers already know and trust you. It's easier to get more business from them than to get any business from somebody who never bought from you. Take advantage of this by creating some special deals just for your existing customers ...and announce new products and services to them before you announce them to the general market.

Also, convert your customers into publicity agents for your business. Develop an incentive for them to tell associates and friends about the value of your products or services. An endorsement from them is more effective than any amount of advertising - and it is much cheaper.

Each of these 7 marketing tips provides a simple, low-cost way for any small business to find customers and generate sales quickly.

Copyright 2005 Bob Leduc http://BobLeduc.com

Bob Leduc spent 20 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales. He just released a New Edition of his manual, How To Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards ...and launched *BizTips from Bob*, a newsletter to help small businesses grow and prosper. You'll find his low-cost marketing methods at: http://BobLeduc.com or call: 702-658-1707 After 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV

The Top Ten Management Failures

Writen by Kevin Dwyer

Over the past month I have been reflecting on the topic of organisational management. I am surprised by the number of organisations that survive perhaps through the benefit of their size or monopolistic position even though they exhibit some of the very worst management traits I've experienced.

Some corporations like Enron, HIH and WorldCom do fall by the wayside, whilst others continue on in mediocrity. Organisations that are shaken up by a leader with a true vision for the organisation inevitably experience a degree of pain that could have been avoided had previous leaders not exhibited one of the following top ten management failures.

Misdirected goals: Leaders sometimes espouse a mantra about what to do because it is fashionable without actually collecting and analysing data and then developing goals based on real information.

Corporate history is littered with examples. The internet boom gave history thousands of companies that spent billions of dollars on internet plays without understanding how customers would react to online experiences and in what time frames.

Cost cutting for cost cutting's sake is another favourite. Leaders have to be seen to be tough on costs, and so they are but at times at a cost to what drives their business profitability.

Phoney leadership: Leaders who continually say one thing and do another confuse their subordinates to the point of distraction. They rob organisations of morale and direction.

They know the right words and tend to love using lots of them, but nothing ever seems to transpire that demonstrates the words as being anything other than hollow. They are not to be trusted and should be shown the way to the door by boards as soon as possible.

Poor performance management: Leaders who preside over performance management systems which degrade into rituals preside over an organisation which is destined for mediocrity. When performance management systems do not objectively differentiate poor performance from good performance, the majority of employees will perform only to level that does not require too much effort.

Performance appraisals which are partisan, based on hearsay, or just plain uninformed are of no use to an organisation and should be stopped. It is better to have no performance management system than a severely flawed one.

Silo mentality: Allowing management silos to develop and continue to operate is a sure way of reducing efficiency as separate teams chase separate goals competing for what should always be limited resources or chasing the same goal with duplicated resources.

Lack of control: Organisations which delegate responsibility routinely to people or functions that do not have the appropriate competence or data from which to make decisions, and then compound it by not measuring the performance of the processes, are rightly bound for failure. This is not delegation. It is abdication.

Too many goals: A Chinese proverb holds true in organisations: "If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." To achieve one significant goal is a difficult task. It requires good strategy aligning people, processes and objective measurement of performance against the goal. Chasing two or three, or in many cases, four or more goals makes it too difficult to make the alignment and be objective about measurement of performance against the goal.

Excess of control: Leaders who insist on controlling everything at all times are at best likely to leave the organisation with an ineffective team unable to make decisions upon their departure. At worst they will build a sycophantic team of "yes" men or women running an inefficient organisation

No goals: Not having a goal or having a nebulous goal such as "World's best practice", at least makes it easy to claim to have achieved the goal. That is, nothing or nothing that can be measured objectively.

No performance management: Not measuring the performance of people, financial and physical assets and intellectual property is okay if your organisation finds it almost impossible not to make money or deliver the services that your customers require within your budget.

Inappropriate leadership style: A command and control style of leadership in an organisation which requires creativity is bound to fail. Equally, a laissez-faire leadership style in the military or police force would be equally disastrous. Leadership needs to be appropriate not only to the organisation, but also the circumstance.

Organisations succeed at times despite these management failures, but they do not thrive. They are unable also to withstand the pressure of adversity when the environment in which they operate turns against them.

These are common failures in big organisations that by their sheer size forget what they are there for and what their goals are.

Strong leadership with a clear well-communicated goal and a performance management system that objectively measures actual performance and determines corrective action are a must. In today's competitive environment, for big and small organisations alike, survival depends on it.

Kevin Dwyer is Director of Change Factory a change management and business improvement company located in Australia and the Fiji Islands. To see more articles visit http://www.changefactory.com.au

Seven Questions To Improve Your Business Your Relationships And Your Life

Writen by Kevin Eikenberry

Seven Questions to Improve Your Business, Your Relationships, and Your Life

One of the most powerful tools we have as humans is our ability to ask questions.  The more adept we are at asking them (and waiting for and listening to the answers), the more effective we will be.  Here are seven great questions to use everyday.

1. Why?  Asking "why?" is a powerful way to gain an understanding of the causes of problems we encounter.  Ask the question again and again to uncover the root causes of your problems.

2. What did I learn?  This most basic reflective question is key to progress in any phase of your life.  Take the time to ask this question each day.

3. How can I help you?  By focusing on attention on the needs of others you will be improving ourselves, as well as our relationships.

4. What if?  This question helps you free your creativity to look for new solutions or just to see new possibilities for yourself.

5. How can this be improved?  This question focuses you on improving your situation.  It helps you focus on the current situation and how to take your results to a new level.

6. How can I show my gratitude?  A spirit of thankfulness is key to long-term happiness.  Thinking about how to show gratitude (and then doing it!) will also help strengthen your relationships.

7. What is the best use of my time now?  Asking this classic question helps to refocus on what's most important to us, whenever we ask it.

©1999, All Rights Reserved, Kevin Eikenberry.  Kevin publishes Unleash Your Potential, a free weekly ezine designed to provide ideas, tools, techniques and inspiration to enhance your professional skills.  Go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/current.asp to read the current issue and subscribe.  Kevin is also President of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consultanting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services.  You can contact Kevin at toll free 888.LEARNER.

Top 10 Ways To Get Testimonials That Rock Part 1

Writen by Dave Wells

"Show me the proof!" "Show me I'm not alone!" This is the mantra of so many prospects. Every sales person should make it their top resolution for 2006 to get more testimonials about the company that they work for and testimonials about themselves.

Here are some guidelines for creating testimonial requests that will help you sell more, build trust, and establish your credibility better than anything you say about yourself:

1) Make a list of all your clients. Rank them based on the services or products that you provided and the results of those services. All companies have horror stories – include the clients that you were able to turn around and make happy.

2) Try to think of any comments that were said to you that were complimentary. Compliments are just the start to get you going.

3) Even better, try to think of any comments that were said to you that showed a tangible, net result that would sell your prospects on what you can deliver to them.

4) Make the most promising clients your target.

5) When contacting your clients, help paint the picture that brings them back to that warm fuzzy feeling. Case in point, "Joe, I remember when you were stressed that your salespeople weren't hitting their numbers. We were able to suggest and then implement some points of action that lead to your appointment/sales volume increase. Do you remember that? Well that's the feeling most of my prospects have before they work with me and I think it would be helpful for them to see that we can help them."

6) Think about your 5 most common selling objections. Did any of your clients say something that will help you overcome a prospects resistance to do business with you in the future? Think of ways to help them say a closing statement about your product or service.

7) Make sure they use their own words. They may not say exactly what you think they should say, but resist the temptation to edit what they say - it will be 100 times more believable when a prospect reads it.

8) If you have to, give them an incentive with something that you know they would like to get in return for their testimonial.

9) Make it clear that you intend to use their testimonial in your marketing materials and get a signature that they give you full rights to their comments without any compensation. Get the legal department's blessing on this one.

10) Testimonials mean nothing and can actually hurt your credibility if you don't provide a real person (full name), title and company name. Using a testimonial that says it's from Scott D. from Chicago, or A Major Manufacturing Company doesn't fool anyone. It's better not to use a testimonial like that at all.

Testimonials are your best sales people. Learn how to get them and how to use them to your business advantage.

Part 2 will cover how to set up the request and provide an example of a successful testimonial request.

David Wells is a business development expert, speaker, trainer, consultant and founder of http://www.emdco.com We do what most salespeople don't. Subscribe to "The B2B Insider Sales Stretegist's Tips of the Week" ezine at http://www.emdco.com/RegisterNow.html.

Plan Your Success In Seven Ways

Writen by Sue And Chuck DeFiore

Many businesses lose money yearly because they don't think creatively about the future.  They run their businesses doing what they think they should: dealing with customers, dealing with problems, ordering for their business, and paying their expenses. They act like their business is a job. They are surviving and that's it. They are not looking at the big picture. They need to use their business as a stepping stone to success. Picturing themselves as a successful business person, and setting up a plan to succeed.

Many of the businesses today are started by people who have been downsized or laid off. They are used to showing up for a job and getting paid, and this is how they are operating their business.

The first thing you must do is to find out what you are really good at. Many people want to know, "How can I make more money?" Unfortunately too many business people never ask themselves, "What am I good at?" They need to do so, and then ask it again every time they want to do something new. This is one of the biggest reasons businesses fail. The owners did not focus on what they were good at and did best. This does not mean you can't try something different. What it does mean that it is best to go with the skills and experience you already have.

The second thing you need to do is take an objective look at yourself. Take a piece of paper and write down what you can and can't do. Picture yourself hiring you. Would you hire yourself?  Would you be impressed? What do you know best? What are your hobbies? Can you turn that hobby into a business? Remember you work best at something you enjoy.

I was an exceptional secretary, so I started a word processing business. I loved typing and taking dictation by telephone, writing up letters, proposals and setting up identity packages. However, I hated having to drive around town to pick up and deliver projects, and cold calling for business. So after losing money, I shut down the business. A couple of years later I started another business where I was the assistant to businesses, but worked from my home. I got to do all the secretarial aspects, but out of a home office. All I had to do was send flyers and mailers to independent contractors. I also worked with answering services for referrals and gave them business, plus a cut of my fee.

What this means is you need to discover what your likes and dislikes are. People like to work at things they do well. They enjoy themselves more. A test for you is to think back over the last couple of days. Then make a list of the things you enjoyed doing. Think about when you were the happiest and what you were doing.

The third thing you need to think about and be able to recognize is: What your competitive edge is.  After you do the above test and find out what your strengths are, you will find that some of these strengths give you an advantage over your competition. Do your particular strengths and abilities help you provide exceptional customer service? Can you do something or produce something that others can't?

If you already have an edge over others,  put it to use. Make your customers aware of your unique qualities. The way to accomplish this is to be sure any advertising or promotional campaign you employ highlights your unique selling points.

The fourth thing you need to do is to plan ahead. While your business concept or product might be unique now, as we know people love to copy what is successful. So you need to plan for the long run. You need to be aware of what your competition is doing and keep your customers coming back.

The fifth thing is that just because there are things you don't like about your business, doesn't mean you give up. Yes, there are going to be certain things you like better than others. Every business person feels this way. However, if you don't like anything about what you are doing, then you might want to start a new business. Be sure before you do so, you give yourself the above test.

The sixth thing is sometimes you just need to make some changes in your business. See if there are certain things you can cut out of your business, a product or service, which you might not enjoy and it is not a profit center for you. Then drop it, and concentrate on those things that are generating a profit.

Maybe you need to make changes to make your job easier, such as buying new software, or a new computer system. Maybe hiring someone on a part time basis could take some of the workload off your shoulders, and allow you to concentrate on other business matters.

And last but not least is to be sure you take what you've learned about yourself, and set up a plan for your business for the future. Don't forget to write down what you're good at and ways that you can apply your skills to making money. You can take this information about your skills and put it in your promotional materials. Be sure you always have a notebook (or a voice recorder) with you to joint down notes to yourself, new business ideas to try. You want to be sure when you do write these things down that you also put a date next to them to implement that idea or strategy. This will give you goals to work for. Be sure to put these goals in a prominent place in your office. I put my goals on index cards and then put the index cards on my desk, on my calendar, and on my bulletin board. By having your goals visible to you, it will help you to stay on track. And, that is what it is all about – keeping your business growing and prospering.

Copyright 2003 DeFiore Enterprises

Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: mailto:subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com

5 Tips To Manage And Organize Email

Writen by Dawn Bjork Buzbee

How do you focus on your urgent e-mail and organize the rest for your review? Think about how you handle your paper mail. You probably sort your paper mail quickly before you read it to figure out what to look at first, what to read later, and what to throw away. Here are some similar ways to automatically process and prioritize your electronic mail for better and faster results:

(Although the following tips refer to Microsoft Outlook, many of these features are similar to those found in other mail systems. For specific how-to steps, and more e-mail and Outlook tips, visit The Software Pro website.)

1. Color Code to Identify Key Messages

Color code priority messages to quickly identify e-mail from your most important contacts such as management, staff, or team members. To apply colors in Microsoft Outlook, highlight a message from a contact, choose Tools > Organize, select the option Using Colors and pick how you want to color-code your incoming messages from the specific contact.

2. Streamline with Categories and Folders

Stop using your Inbox as a reference system filled with messages that don't require an immediate action. To further organize your messages, create categories and folders with useful labels such as Team Members, Projects, Personal, and others. The Categories feature in Microsoft Outlook, for instance, helps to organize and view active messages into groups within your Inbox. Create and use e-mail folders to store messages that you have already handled and wish to keep for history or folders for e-mail that contains informational reading and general reference.

Note that folders and categories sort in alphabetical order which is not likely to place your priority items at the top. Adding a letter or number at the beginning of a label, such as a-Team Members and b-Projects, will sort these towards the top of your Inbox.

3. Filter with Rules

Rules are instructions or filters that automatically categorize, organize, and prioritize messages based on conditions that you set. As new messages are received in Microsoft Outlook, right-click on the message and left click on the command Create a Rule to apply a category or move the message to a folder. If all you do is apply rules, you may be able to get through e-mail in half the time it took before.

4. Learn Easy Navigation

Stop wasting time by moving in and out of each message and start applying simple navigation tricks. In Microsoft Outlook, for instance, you can move in your Inbox with the up or down arrow key to select a message. Then press [Enter] to open the message. To move to the next message directly from the current e-mail, look for toolbar buttons with arrows or press [Ctrl] + > for the next message and [Ctrl] + < for the previous e-mail. Press [Esc] to close the active message.

5. Sort to Find Messages

To quickly sort your e-mail messages, click once on a column heading for the new order you want such as sender, subject or date. For instance, to sort messages by the sender, click once on the Sender heading. By clicking twice on a column heading, the sort order changes from ascending (A-Z) order to descending (Z-A) order. By the way, the abbreviations RE and FW in the Subject line are ignored when you sort messages alphabetically by subject.

Implementing these ideas for overcoming e-mail overload can help you become more productive and free you from your Inbox.

© 2004 by Dawn Bjork Buzbee

Dawn Bjork Buzbee is The Software Pro™ and a certified Microsoft Office Expert and Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor. Dawn shares smart and easy ways to effectively use software and technology through her work as a speaker, trainer, and consultant. Visit http://www.SoftwarePro.com for great Microsoft Office software tips and tricks or to contact Dawn.

Top 7 Reasons Why Team Charters Improve Team Success

Writen by Kevin Eikenberry

Thousands of teams are formed in businesses around the world each day. And most of those teams flounder unnecessarily for too long and some flounder forever). There is one simple practice that can improve the results of most any team, whether formed for a short project or as a new working unit. That practice is team chartering.

The team charter is a document that serves as both guidance and a roadmap for any team's success. When used most effectively, this tool clarifies the purpose for the team's existence and documents the agreements amongst the team members.

Here are the seven reasons why a team chartering process will be of great benefit when forming any team.

1. Shows support and commitment. One of the key components to an effective team charter is the identification of a team sponsor or a person outside of the team that can provide support and direction to the team. Many teams flounder because they don't have a "go to" person they can rely on when they get stuck or encounter obstacles. The team charter is one way for those sponsors to communicate their interest and support. The charter also provides the team with the assurance that such a person exists.

2. Sets team direction. A good team charter will provide a team with the rationale and goals for the team. Often teams are formed without these ideas having been clearly defined. This is a problem not only for the creation of the team, but makes the work of the team exceedingly difficult. How do you know what to do when you don't know the specific goals and objectives you are supposed to achieve? If I could have only one component to any team charter it would be a clear definition of the direction, goals to be reached, and problems to be solved by the team.

3. Provides agreements and clarity. Charters provide more than just overall direction and alignment to the organization's overall purpose. The best charters also provide a chance for the team itself to build agreements about how they will operate, make decisions, how often they will meet, and many other logistical issues.

4. Structures and ensures and effective planning process. Too often in our fast-paced world, teams move too quickly to building a solution because they think that immediate action is required. With this perspective they spend too little time in planning for successful action. A team chartering process, form, or checklist helps make sure a team plans successfully before moving forward. The time spent in planning initially will be repaid many times over during the life of the team - both in time saved and frustration avoided.

5. Identifies roles. Will the same person facilitate each meeting? Who is the team leader? Are there specific expectations of the team members? What roles will each individual will play? Does every team member understand why they're there and what expertise they can provide? A team chartering process can help answer all of these questions, and thereby help any team be more successful more quickly.

6. Outlines boundaries and scope. Often teams wonder what's inside of their control and what is actually expected of them. A good chartering process should help a team understand what their boundaries are what their limitations are what parts of the problem they are responsible for etc.

7. Sets resources. Teams often wonder what about their level of authority. Can they hire consultants? Can they bring in outside experts? What is their budget? Can they bring in additional resources within the organization? A good chartering document will help set both the resource requirements and levels of authority the team has to acquire more resources when needed.

8. Improves productivity, and the likelihood of successful outcome. Okay, so there are more than seven. All of the first seven benefits lead to this one - the ultimate benefit of all. Successfully chartering will improve the likelihood that the team will be less frustrated take less time and create greater results.

The importance of a team chartering process can't be overstated. You'll notice that I have outlined the benefits and therefore implied many of the key components to a successful team charter. Remember that the form, format or template you use is less important than the time spent in conversation and dialogue to make sure what you document is realistic, and relevant. Remember too that you want to create something not as an exercise but as a living document for the team to use as both a guide and a roadmap.

When you invest the time to do a team charter, you will truly help the team as a whole be more successful. And you will also be providing a highly valued structure to help individual team members be less frustrated and more productive.

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company. To receive a free Special Report on leadership that includes resources, ideas, and advice go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/leadership.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

How To Sell Effectively On Ebay Top 10 Tips

Writen by William King

Online auction is scorching the virtual world. More and more people are finding the virtual world a convenient way to sell as well as purchase goods. Many of them use online auction sites such as eBay to get their product's worth.

Auction sites such as eBay also house a myriad of products and it is very easy for one's product to get lost in the crowd. One can follow certain tips that will aid in effective selling

1) Familiarize yourself with the site: It is important to familiarize yourself with the site. You can just navigate within the site to get a feel of it. Visit the site's help section. They have a special space dedicated to sellers- http://pages.eBay.in/help/sell/index.html. This will not only give you the confidence to go ahead but will also make you aware of the pitfalls and the dangers as well as the things you are supposed to do and things you are supposed to avoid.

2) Pay attention to the appearance: Appearance matters. Imagine yourself in the shoes of the buyer. This will give you a better idea of how things should be done. The appearance of the text should be neat. Select fonts that are normally seen on a website. Try not to select fancy fonts. Try to highlight important matters and points in a tasteful manner. Remember the appearance can make or break your sale. No one would buy an item that is presented in a shabby manner. An untidy appearance also creates a negative impression of the seller.

3) Title: eBay requires the seller to give a title and a short description of the product. Be sure that the language used is simple and free from grammatical mistakes. One should bear in mind that eBay attracts all kinds of visitors. Hence the description should be such that it is understandable to everybody. Similarly, the title should be short, yet informative. A reader should be able to make out about the item after reading the title.

4) Picture: 'Picture speaks a thousand words' is an oft-repeated phrase. Be sure to include a descriptive picture. A picture lets the prospective buyer to get a feel of the product. The buyer gets a good idea about the item that is being offered for sale. Imagine a wall unit being offered for sale, but there is no picture of it. Will you prefer buying it? Most of us will say 'No!' Remember to get a nice picture of the item that you wish to get listed on eBay. The picture should be clean, focused and taken in lighted conditions. Hazy, unfocussed and dimly lit pictures are a strict no.

5) Show it, don't tell: If you are selling used items; make sure that you give a good description about the condition of the product. Do not use ambiguous sentences such as 'almost new', 'a bit damaged' etc. If it is damaged a bit, then tell it in concrete sentences. For e.g., scratches on the rear part, scrapped from the left corner etc. This will give the prospective buyer an idea of the extent of the damage. It will also increase his confidence in you and will help you to sell the product more effectively.

6) Be clear about the accessories: If the product you are selling comes with certain accessories, make sure that you mention whether you are offering the accessories or not. Do not keep the buyer in the dark. Doing so will give a bad name to you. For e.g., if a certain mobile phone offers accessory like head set when purchased from a seller, and if you are selling the same model as a second – hand, be sure to mention whether or not you are offering the head set. This is a great way to arouse buyer confidence that will go a long way in selling the product. Furthermore if the product you are selling does not include accessories, then try to add some to it. People are always willing to pay a bit more for added value. For e.g. if you are selling a chess board then adding a chess board stand can dramatically increase your profits and chances of selling. Its all about staying ahead of your competition and this technique alone can really help you to beat all the competition out there.

7) Be specific: Include details such as guarantee policy, return and exchange policy, shipping details, in straight and clear terms. The prospective buyer should not have any confusion. Remember that eBay has a system wherein buyers leave a feedback. A positive feedback will help you to sell other products effectively on eBay.

8) Time the listings: eBay requires the sellers to list the timings for the opening and the closing of the bid. One must be careful of the timing of the listings. It is no use if you time the listings such that the target market is not awake. For e.g. if you the target buyers for your product are located in USA, one must time in such a way that the maximum number of Americans are on the Internet during that time. Also remember, most of the bids are placed on the last day and more importantly at the last hour. Keep this factor in mind before deciding upon the timings or else you will lose out on good or high bidders. There have been many studies and a lot of research has been done in determining the best timings for your listing. Whatever you decide just make sure that you end up your listing during busy hour which normally is between 7:00pm to 11:00pm

9) Flexibility in receiving payment: Make sure that you have specified your preferable mode of receiving the payment. eBay offers a lot of options. Be flexible. If you keep on insisting on PayPal, you might lose a highest bidder who can make payment only through a check or money order. Keeping your options open will certainly help you maximize your profits.

10) Be agile: Be quick and agile while delivering the goods. Since the buyers can leave a feedback, a laxity shown by you in the final stages can hurt your credibility and might force the buyer to give a negative feedback. Also pack the item carefully. Nobody is going to accept a damaged product. It will be a waste of the buyer's as well as your time and efforts. Do remember that someone who has purchased from you in the past and had a great buying experience is more than likely to purchase from you again, therefore providing a timely delivery and a well packaged product would most definitely result in many repetitive customers.

These are some of the main points you should keep in mind if you have to carry out a successful sale on eBay and maximize your profits.

William King is the director of UK Wholesale Dropshippers, Wholesale UK Directory, and Dropshipping Directory. He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.

Seven Reasons Organizational Culture Matters

Writen by Kevin Eikenberry

We spend 40 . . . or 45 . . . or 50 . . . or more hours at work each week. Many of us spend more time with those we work with than we do our families. For us to be content and fulfilled people, that time must be valuable for more than a dollar. . .

We want to be engaged in our work. We yearn for work that is enjoyable, meaningful and engaging. When we are engaged we are safer on the job, more productive and more willing and able to delight Customers.

It is for these basic reasons that organizational culture matters. It is the right thing for an organization to do - to think about the work environment, working relationships and "how we do things here."

Focusing on building and sustaining an organizational culture is one way of showing that people are the organization's most valuable asset.

There are of course many other bottom line business reasons to focus on and build organizational culture. Here are seven of those reasons.

A strong culture is a talent-attractor. Your organizational culture is part of the package that prospective employees look at when assessing your organization. Gone are the days of selecting the person you want from a large eager pool. The talent market is tighter and those looking for a new organization are more selective than ever. The best people want more than a salary and good benefits. They want an environment they can enjoy and succeed in.

A strong culture is talent-retainer. How likely are people to stay if they have other options and don't love where they are? Your organizational culture is a key component of a person's desire to stay.

A strong culture engages people. People want to be engaged in their work. According to a Gallup survey at least 22 million American workers are extremely negative or "actively disengaged" – this loss of productivity is estimated to be worth between $250-$300 Billion annually. Your culture can engage people. Engagement creates greater productivity, which can impact profitability. Need I say more?

A strong culture creates energy and momentum. Build a culture that is vibrant and allows people to be valued and express themselves and you will create a very real energy. That positive energy will permeate the organization and create a new momentum for success. Energy is contagious and will build on itself, reinforcing the culture and the attractiveness of the organization.

A strong culture changes the view of "work." Most people have a negative connotation of the word work. Work equals drudgery, 9-5, "the salt mine." When you create a culture that is attractive, people's view of "going to work" will change. Would you rather see work as drudgery or a joy? Which do you think your employees would prefer? Which will lead to the best results?

A strong culture creates greater synergy. A strong culture brings people together. When people have the opportunity to (and are expected to) communicate and get to know each other better, they will find new connections. These connections will lead to new ideas and greater productivity - in other words, you will be creating synergy. Literally, 1 + 1 + right culture = more than 10. How is that for leverage?

A strong culture makes everyone more successful. Any one of the other six reasons should be reason enough to focus on organizational culture. But the bottom line is that an investment of time, talent and focus on organizational culture will give you all of the above benefits. Not only is creating a better culture a good thing to do for the human capital in the business, it makes good business sense too.

Hopefully this article has helped you see that time spent enhancing your organizational culture will be time wisely invested. Regardless of your current culture, it is never too late to enhance it and to begin creating the benefits described above.

What are you waiting for?

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company. To receive a free Special Report on leadership that includes resources, ideas, and advice go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/leadership.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

Top 10 Tips For A Successful Network Marketing Presentation

Writen by Maria Davies

As network marketers, we often have important information to impart and our role in doing so is a major one. Many, many times I have had the pleasure of having people approach me to say how hearing me speak literally changed their lives due to the powerful message and the persuasiveness of the delivery. Most people in MLM are not trained presenters or salespersons but there are a few steps everyone can take to make sure their message has the best possible chance of being well received. Here are my top tips:

1. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: Not every pitch will work for everyone so before you go to present the products or the business, whether it's to just one person or to many, do a little research to ensure you're presenting at the appropriate level. If your presentation is too lightweight, you'll bore them; too in depth, you'll confuse them. Either way, they will switch off and your vital words will fall on deaf ears.

2. WIIFM: Yes, that old chestnut, but it's worth repeating as it's so often forgotten. Bearing in mind tip no. 1, what are the challenges faced by this person or this group of people? How does your business opportunity or your product solve their problems? Focus on answering these questions rather than trotting out the mechanics of your offering. Your audience must feel you've prepared your presentation specially for them, even if it's essentially the same one you're giving all the time.

3. CONTINUALLY LEARN AND PRACTICE PRESENTING: One of the most important skills any network marketer can hone is that of becoming an accomplished speaker. It impacts so many other areas of your life as it massively increases your self-confidence. The more professionally you can deliver your message, the more readily it will be received, the more lives you will touch and the more money you will make in your business. Learning to present well is an investment in yourself and can give you the greatest return on the capital you've invested.

4. HANDLE DISSENTERS WELL: One of the major fears I hear from network marketers is that of being faced with doubting prospects or those who dispute what they're being told. Unfortunately, the tendency is to dig in and fight your corner but this can turn the discussion into an argument and work against you, especially if you're giving a presentation in front of a group. When you're faced with negativity, always start your answer with "That's a very good question…" and continue with your viewpoint. Wherever possible, turn things around to make your audience right. Download a free "one-sheet crib sheet" on this important subject at http://www.laddersofsuccess.com.

5. SHOW, DON'T TELL: Show the products you're talking about. Let people feel, smell and see for themselves instead of just hearing what they are like. If you're making a presentation about the business opportunity, remember that your company has probably done a lot to make things easier for you. Make sure you get the prospecting materials they offer, show the pictures of the top distributors, talk about them as if they are real people .

6. LET YOUR GUARD DOWN: People buy from those they know, like and trust. How can they do any of this if you won't let them get to know the real you. You don't have to be perfect, you can talk about your own challenges, beliefs, family, hopes and dreams. Doing so gives your prospects more opportunity to identify with you so you can use the similarities to build rapport.

7. STORIES INSTEAD OF FACTS: When we get excited about our products, we often delve into the features of the products, what works and why. This is all very exciting once you've had your first wonderful product experience, but it doesn't make for a very exciting lead-in to your presentation. People want to know about results. They want the bottom line. There's plenty of time to get to the detail later but to start this way could send most of your prospects to sleep (apart from the professors in the audience, of course). The best way to illustrate what your products or business opportunity can do is through telling stories. Use your own story or a case study of someone you know. Use emotive words. Remember, not just the facts, the feelings too.

8. MAKE 'EM LAUGH: When people laugh they feel more relaxed and amenable. Every situation has a humorous side and if you're telling a tragic story your prospects will welcome the respite that comes with a moment of levity. The golden rule is to move people: make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, then they buy. This is something I aim to do in every presentation because it means I've moved my audience emotionally. I appreciate this is an advanced technique, but if you learn how to do it, you'll increase your success rate exponentially.

9. DON'T TELL – ASK: Instead of telling your prospects everything, get them answering questions. Rather than saying "Did you know that only 1% of people retire financially free?", ask them "What percentage of people do you think retire financially free?". This gets your prospects involved and if you word your questions correctly, you're coaching them to the purchase decision rather than having to push them into buying. This is a technique I teach that I've perfected over the years. It works great for network marketers and women and I call it "pull selling".

10. GIVE A REASON TO ACT NOW: Again, not being salespersons, many network marketers give a great presentation and then wimp out without asking for the order. Your prospect's motivation will never be higher than it is at that moment so make sure you use this to your advantage. Think of reasons why they should place their order today. Some possible reasons might be because you are offering a special bonus OR prices are about to increase OR there's an order deadline coming up so they'll get their goods sooner OR you're placing an order too so they'll save on the postage OR you're offering a discount on orders placed today OR you're seeing someone else who could become a distributor and will go beneath them. Whatever it is, tell them, and secure the sale.

Maria Davies, Ladders of Success Ltd, is a network marketer and a Professional Sales Presenter and Presentations Coach. She trains others to overcome their public speaking fears and use presentation skills to increase the audience share for their product or service by around 91%. Find out more about forthcoming seminars, worldwide e-trainings or speaker bookings at http://www.laddersofsuccess.com